10 November 2010

Hello, my name is Lee, and I'm a procrastinator. (Just look at my post history...lol)

I've worked on it over the last year after my friend smacked me upside the head for taking a year to finish a three-month project he was helping me with. I still blow stuff off, but I'm getting better. I sought information online for overcoming my shortcoming, downloaded a time management assistant, and began using lists. Without my lists I would relapse. Hey! I have time to do a blog post!

It's no mistake I use the Alcoholics Anonymous 12 steps as a model for steps to becoming god free. Besides the obvious comparison of blind faith to an addiction, something some people seem not to "live without," or have a difficult time overcoming, the steps themselves have a "higher power" involved. For example, AA's step seven is; "Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings." The capitalized "Him" refers to the "God as we understood Him" from step four.

How's that working out for you? Did your shortcomings vanish upon your humble request? If not, is it possible you weren't humble enough? If so, did they simply melt away effortlessly?

By definition, participants in AA's program consider their addiction a shortcoming. Those that achieve success don't do it by way of humble divine request, but with a support group, personal sponsor, incentives, and a whole lot of willpower and effort. No otherworldly aid is needed or involved.

As in step three, you get to take the credit for your successes, but conversely, you need to take responsibility for your shortcomings and endeavor to repair them. Maybe you ask for someone's or some group's help, maybe through your own effort, but probably a combination these and other real world means of self-improvement.